Tobacco stringing machine



Patented June 23, 1953 aerate TOBACCO STRINGING MACHINE Maurice Bourquin, Wavre, Saint-Blaise,

Switzerland 1 Application March 11, 1949, Serial No. 80,817 In Switzerland September 22, 1948 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machine for stringing leaves, bundles or hands of tobacco preparatory to drying.

In the past tobacco leaves have been placed on a string by means of a needle attached to the string, the needle being manually inserted through the leaves or stems one by one until the desired length of string has been filled. Machines have been proposed for performin a similar operation in various ways but it is not believed that any of these machines have met with commercial success. The proposals in the past have generally relied upon the use of a very long needle which is propelled endwise through a suitable number of previously positioned leaves. The elongated needle is provided with a hook or eye near the pointed end to which a string is attached after the needle has been projected through the leaves so that upon withdrawal of the needle, the string is drawn backwardly through the leaves.

The machine of the present invention makes use of a relatively short still needle to which the string is attached. The machine is provided with a movable element such as a conveyor or comb having a plurality of pockets to which the leaves may be individually and successively supplied. The pockets are defined by arms which serveto push the leaves over the needle and to carry them beyond the needle onto the string. A feature of particular importance in the present machine is that the needle is so supported by the movable element that it floats in stationary position while the pockets move past it for the purpose of stringing the leaves. In this manner the stringing operation may be carried out very quickly and emciently. In certain forms of the machine the leaves are automatically spaced along the string so that they are immediately ready to be attached to the laths frequently used in tobaccodrying barns. In accordance with a simplified version of the machine a suitable number of leaves may be positioned upon the string without spacing and it will ordinarily be necessary for an operator to manually space the leaves along the string prior to attachment to the laths. It will be understood that the leaves, particularly leaves of the liner grade of tobacco, are customarily spaced for drying in order to avoid loss due to mildew or rot which might occur if the leaves were permitted to remain in contact with one another. 1

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a machine for automatically stringing'tobacco leaves, hands or bundles which may be simply and rapidly operated and which is relatively inexpensive in original construction while being reliable and unlikely to fail in operation. Other and further objects will become apparent upon a consideration of the following detailed description of preferred, but'not necessarily the only, forms of the invention taken in connection with the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification. In the drawmgs:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan View of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a section along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of a resilient rack extension provided in the machine shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig; 6 is a diagrammatic plan View of a modifled form of machine embodying the present invention.

The machine shown in Figs. 1 through 5 embodies an endless flexible chain having pockets defined by arms formed on the links. Dependent upon its overall length, the machine may be caused to automatically space the leaves along the string or to supply the leaves to the string in unspaced relationship. The modified-form shown in Fig. 6 embodies a pocketed comb-like structure which moves in one direction to place the leaves upon the string and must be returned to its original position before being used to place leaves upon another string. The mounting and operation of the needle is the same in all forms of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine shown in Fig. 1 comprises a pedestal Ill upon which is mounted a frame indicated generally at I 2. At one end of the frame I 2 there is mounted a driven sprocket l4 fixed to a vertical shaft it. The shaft I 6 and driven sprocket [4 may be rotated at suitable speed by any appropriate mechanism such for example as a motor M and suitable reduction gearing indicated generally at l8 and 2d. 7

At the other end of the frame 12 there is provided an idler sprocket 22 which is centered upon a shaft 24. The sprockets It and 22 may be covered by a cover-plate 26 formed in one or more pieces and also arranged to cover the central portion of the machine. An endless flexible 3 chain C is conducted around the sprockets l4 and 22 and is adapted to be continuously driven in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. The chain is made up of articulated links connected by pivot pins 28. Each of the links is provided with an arm for pushing tobacco leaves, and alternate links are provided with special mechanism for holding the needle in stationary position relative to the frame. In Fig. 1 the machine is shown as including two operating stations and it is thus provided with two needles N and NN, respectively. As shown in said figure, a string S is attached to the needle N and a string SS is attached to the needle NN. Leaves, bundles or hands of tobacco may be positioned individually and successively in the conveyor pockets at both of the stations. The operator at each station will hold each leaf until it is impaled upon the needle whereupon the conveyor will carry it along the needle and string.

For the general purpose just described the links of chain C are constructed as shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. It will be observed that the chain C is made up of alternately arranged links and 32 of two diiferent types. formed of spaced upper and lower plates. The upper plate 34 is formed with a laterally extended arm near the outer end of which may be attached a plate 36 having a concave edge 38 for engaging a tobacco leaf. The lower plate 48 of link 30 has a similar laterally extended arm on which may be mounted a leaf-engaging plate 42 of the same shape as plate 36. The upper and lower plates 34 and 48 are spaced by means of spacers 44 and 46 which surround the pivot pins 28. ally extended arms of the plates 34 and 48 are further spaced by means of a cylindrical block 48 which extends between the upper and lower plates and may be conveniently fastened by means such as a pin or rivet 53 which also may be used to secure the plates 36 and 42 to the arms. A shorter cylindrical block 52 is secured to the upper plate 34 as by a pin or rivet 54. The block 52 terminates above the upper surface of the lower plate for a purpose to be described, and is laterally spaced from the cylindrical block 48 by a distance equal to the thickness of the needle N as will be more clearly understood in connection with the description hereinbelow of the links 32.

Each link 32 is constructed'as follows, particular reference being had to the detailed sectional view in Fig. 4. As shown therein the link 32 comprises an upper plate 56 having a laterally extended arm which terminates at 58 (see Fig. 2).

The lower plate 58 has a laterally extending arm substantially equal in length to the corresponding arm on plate 48 of a link 30. It will be observed in Fig. 4 that parts of a link 38 are visible, as well as the parts of the link 32 now being described. Thus the block 52 of a link 38 is visible, although it will be understood that this block lies in a plane considerably behind that of the sectional view. The upper and lower plates 56 and 60 of link 32 are spaced by the spacers 44 and 46 heretofore described. The plates 56 and 60 are also spaced by means of a cylindrical block 62 located between the lateral extensions thereof and secured by means of pins 64. Each lower plate 60 may have secured thereto by means of the lower end of pin 64 and an additional pin or rivet 66, a leafengaging plate 68 having a convex edge 16.

The upper plate 56 of each link 32 carries a bearing block 12 in which there is freely rotatably mounted a short shaft 14 having a pinion 16 secured thereto at its inner end and a pinion 18 Each link 30 is z.

The later- 4 secured thereto at its outer end. The pinions 16 and 18 are of the same diameter and have similar gear teeth formed thereon for a purpose to be described.

Referring now to Fig. 1 it will be observed that the frame l2 carries adjacent each station a pair of spaced blocks B and BB to which is secured the opposite ends of a guide G and GG, respectively. Referring next to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the guide G comprises spaced upper and lower bars provided with slots and 82 which receive the ends of the pivot pins 28 of the chain C. The guide G or GG thus serves to hold the portion of the chain passing therethrough in rigid condition. As shown in Fig. 1, the guides G are of such length as to extend throughout the length of the needle N or NN and somewhat therebeyond at each end. Obviously the guides G and GG may be of any length and may be extended throughout the length of the machine if so desired.

The guide G has fixed thereto a plate 84 which carries an elongated rack 86. It will be understood that a similar plate and rack and other parts now to be described are provided in the other station. The rack 86 is provided with teeth adapted to mesh with the teeth in the pinions 16 carried by the links 32 passing through the station. Preferably the teeth in rack 86 are cut at an angle so that they will properly mesh with the angularly disposed pinions 16. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the rack 86 is at least as long as the needle and preferably is slightly longer. The needle N has a series of rack teeth 88 cut in its upper surface which mesh with the teeth of the pinions F8. As stated above, the pinions 18 are of the same diameter as the pinions 16 and are fixed to the shaft 14. Thus as the chain C successively carries links 32 through the station, the teeth of pinions 1'6 are meshed with the rack 86. This sets the pinions 18 into rotation and when they mesh with the teeth on needle N, the latter will be held stationary relative to the rack 86.

The needle N is of such length as always to be in mesh with at least two pinions 18. Preferably the needle N is relatively thin and flat and is sharpened at the end 90 as by bringing all four surfaces to a common point. The needle N is arranged in the lateral extensions of the links 30 and 32 in such manner as to be slidably received between the cylindrical blocks 50 and 52 of links 38. The needle is further guided by the cylindrical blocks 62 in the links 32. The construction just described provides a positive guiding means for holding the needle against lateral displacement.

The needles N and NN are positioned as shown during assembly of the machine and remain in such positions unless the machine is disassembled. The strings S or SS are secured to the rear ends of the respective needles N or NN by being inserted through a suitable opening 92 formed through the rear ends of the needles. As noted above, the cylindrical blocks 52 on the links 30 terminate above the upper surface of the lower plates 46 thus leaving an opening in each link through which the string may be inserted or removed from the machine (see Fig. 4).

Referring back to Fig. 1 it will be observed that a break has been indicated in the drawing thus leaving the overall length of the machine to the discretion of the builder. According to the practice in some localities, sixty leaves of tobacco are positioned on each string. If under those circumstances it is desired to have the machine automatically space all sixty of. the leaves, it is necessary to construct the machine of such length that at least sixty links and 32 will extend in a straight line from the rear end of the needle to the left-hand end of the machine as it would be viewed from the particular station of the machinein use. In that event the string S will be extended through sixty or more links and the loose end thereof may ex tend out of the machine as indicated in Fig. 1. If it is not desired to have the machine space the leaves throughout the length of string, the machine may be made very much shorter and in that event the string S may extend through a relatively few links'3u and 32 beyond the rear end of the needle. The remaining length of string may be extended to a convenient stationary post or bracket (not shown) adjacent the machine. Obviously the shorter form of machine which does not space the leaves throughout the length of. the string, will. be less expensive to construct and may be desired by some users.

In operation of the machine shown in Fig. 1- an operator is positioned at each of the stations. The operations performed are identical and therefore will be described only in connection with the station having the; needle N therein. String S of suitable length is attached to the needle N and inserted into the links 56 and 32 extending leftwardly of the operator in that station. Tobacco-leaves, bundles or hands are inserted individually and successively into the spaces between successive links 30 and 32. If bundles or'hands are being strung, the. stem is held by the operator in proper position to be impaledupon the needle N. If individual leaves are being strung, the alternately concave and convex plates 36 and 68 are of particular utility.

In Fig. 2 individual tobacco leaves are shown in dot-and-dash lines. The leaves 94 are being pushed by the convex plates 68 of the links 32, while the leaves 96 are being pushed by the concave plates 36 of the links 30. Since tobacco leaves are convex on the vein side, the alternately convex and concave plates 68 and permit the operator to place alternate leaves in opposite directions so that the leaves. will be well spaced upon the string. After each leaf has been prop erly positionedbetween the links 39 and 32, the operator holds the leaf while the chain moves until the leaf has been brought into engagement with the, pointedend. Sill of the needle. Thereafter the leaf is carried along the needle and onto the string. In a machine of such,

length as to permit the stringing of, say, sixty leaves, before the first leaf reaches the far end of the machine, the operator will place sixty leaves upon the machine in each run thereof. When all of the leaves have been positioned, the machine is stopped and the filled string is removed. A. new string is then tied to the needle end and threaded through the appropriate number of links for the next operation. It has been found that the operator at each of the stations shown in Fig. 1 can conveniently place sixty leaves in one minute. Since there are two stations and two operators, the machine is therefore capable of stringing one hundred and twenty leaves per. minute of actual running time. Therefore the speed of movement of the chain C is such as to move sixty links 30. and 32 past a given point in one minute. Removal of the filled String andreplacement of it for the next d operation requires only a few seconds so that the total output of the machine is very high. For stringing leaves, bundles or hands without attention to spacing the machine may be very much shorter in overall length as discussed above. In that event the free end of the string must be secured to an adjacent stationary post or standard. The operator places the leaves as above described and the leaves will be fed out of the machine onto the string in closely packed relationship. When a suitable number of leaves has been positioned, the machine is stopped and the filled string removed. It is necessary, of

course, for the, leaves to be spaced by handbe-t lath for hang-- fore the string is attached to the ing in the drying barn.

A particularly desirable feature of the present machine is the provision of a flexibly mounted rack extension for the rack in both stations of the machine.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 5 the rack extension is generally indicated at 9% and comprises several rack teeth carried by a flat blade spring lilil attached to the guide G (or GG) by a flange I02 and screws I04. The teeth on the rack extension 98 comprise several teeth I36 which are of the same size and shape as the teeth on rack 86. The tooth Hi6 nearest the first tooth on rack as is spaced from said first tooth in the same manner as the teeth are spaced on the rack 86 and the remaining teeth I05 are spaced from one another by this same distance. A special tooth l E38 on the spring blade Hid is spaced from the adjacent tooth I )5 by a distance slightly greater than the spacing existing between the remaining teeth m6 and 86. The construction just described is provided to insure proper meshing of the teeth in pinions 16 with the teeth.

in the rack 85. Thus, if a pinion it approaches the rack extension as in such position that a tooth on the pinion will set up against the tooth I08, the spring i (90 will flex to prevent damage to the machine and the next pinion tooth will fall into proper mesh with the first tooth N35. The spacing between the tooth E08 and the adjacent tooth IE6 is sufficiently wider than the remaining spaces to secure the result just described but is not so wide as to cause difiiculty when a pinion happens to mesh properly with the tooth I08. In the latter event the pinion may not mesh perfectly at first with the first tooth I06, but it cannot set against it.

A modified form of the invention is shown in diagrammatic form in Fig. 6. In this form of the invention the pushers for the tobacco leaves are formed just like the alternate links 3i, and 32 of chain C in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 5. However, instead of contprising links of a chain, these same structures are rigidly connected together to form a comb. The comb is generally indicated at lie and it is provided with upper arms i F2 and I l alternate-- ly arranged through its length. The arms H2 each carry pinions as indicated at ill and the machine is equipped with a rack i l3 and toothed needle H3. The pinions ill, rack H3. and needle E E5 correspond in all details with the corresponding parts in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 5. I

In the present form of the invention the needle H6 is shown in position toward the left-hand end of the machine. The comb Iii} has formed thereon a dovetail slide H8 which is received in a slotted bracket I 20 in which it is adapted to reciprocate. The bracket suitable pedestal or frame I20 is carried by a not shown. The Ina-v chine may have any suitable source of power for reciprocating the comb III For example, there may be provided on bracket I20 a spring barrel I22 which contains a coil spring and clockwork or other escapement mechanism for rotating the barrel at a suitable speed in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6. Secured to the outside surface of the barrel is a strap I24 which has an eye I26 formed on the free end thereof and which is attached to a stud I28 formed on the comb III]. A string I30 is tied to the needle I IS in the same manner as described above in connection with the machine in Figs. 1 through 5. The free end of the string preferably is secured to a suitable post or stanchion (not shown) which is stationary relative to the bracket I20. Tobacco leaves are positioned successively in the pockets between the lateral extensions H2 and III and the clockwork mechanism in barrel I22 is set into operation to move the comb toward the left as viewed in Fig. 6. When the comb has been filled and the machine comes to a stop, the string I30 may be removed from the machine. The operator then manually returns the comb IID toward the right as viewed in Fig. 6, arming the spring barrel I22. A new string is affixed to the needle H6 and the machine is ready for the next operation.

While a suitable form of apparatus and certain modifications thereof have been described in detail, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made without departing from the general principles and scope of this invention. In certain of the claims reference is made to tobacco leaves. It is to be understood that such reference is intended to include bundles and hands of tobacco, as well as individual leaves since the machine of the present invention is designed to operate on all such forms of tobacco.

I claim:

1. In a tobacco stringing machine, the combination of a stationary frame, a member movable relative to said frame and having a plurality of spaced arms, means for moving said movable member in a fixed path in which said spaced arms are effective to advance a series of tobacco leaves through said machine, a needle having rack teeth extending lengthwise thereof, a rack secured to said frame, a first series of pinions carried by said movable member and so positioned thereon as to be brought successively into mesh with the rack on said frame, means carried by said movable member for slidably supporting said needle with the rack teeth thereon parallel with the teeth of the rack on said frame, a second series of pinions carried by said movable member each pinion in said second series having the same pitch diameter as and being fixed for rotation with a pinion in said first series, said needle being so positioned in said movable member that pinions in said second series will mesh successively with the rack teeth on said needle during substantially the same period of time that the pinions of said first series respectively fixed thereto are in mesh with the rack on said frame whereby to hold said needle stationary during movement of said movable member.

2. In a tobacco stringing machine, the combination of a stationary frame, an endless flexible conveyor mounted on said frame and having a plurality of spaced arms, means for driving said conveyor in a predetermined path in which said spaced arms are effective to advance a series of tobacco leaves through said machine, a needle having rack teeth extending lengthwise 1 thereof, a rack secured to said frame, a first'series of pinions carried by said conveyor and so positioned thereon as to be brought successively into mesh with the rack on said frame, means carried by said conveyor for slidably supporting said needle with the rack teeth thereon parallel with the teeth of the rack on said frame, a second series of pinions carried by said conveyor each pinion in said second series having the same pitch diameter as and being fixed for rotation with a pinion in said first series, said needle being so positioned in said conveyor that pinions in said second series will mesh successively with the rack teeth on said needle during substantially the same period of time that the pinions of said first series respectively fixed thereto are in mesh with the rack on said frame whereby to hold said needle stationary during movement of said conveyor.

3. In a tobacco stringing machine, the combination of a stationary frame, an endless flexible conveyor mounted on said frame and having a plurality of spaced arms, means for driving said conveyor in a predetermined path in which said spaced arms are effective to advance a series of tobacco leaves through said machine, a needle having rack teeth extending lengthwise thereof, a rack secured to said frame, a resiliently mounted rack having a few teeth normally forming a continuation of the teeth on said rack secured to said frame and having a single tooth spaced from the adjacent tooth by a distance slightly greater than the distance between the remaining teeth, a first series of pinions carried by said conveyor and so positioned thereon as to be brought successively into engagement with said single tooth and thereafter into mesh with the teeth on said resilient rack and with the rack on said frame, means carried by said conveyor for slidably supporting said needle with the rack teeth thereon parallel with the teeth of the rack on said frame, a second series of pinions carried by said conveyor each pinion in said second series having the same pitch diameter as and being fixed for rotation with a pinion in said first series, said needle being so positioned in said conveyor that pinions in said second series will mesh successively with the rack teeth on said needle during substantially the same period of time that the pinions of said first series respectively fixed thereto are in mesh with the rack on said frame whereby to hold said needle stationary during movement of said conveyor.

4. In a tobacco stringing machine, the combination of a stationary frame, a member movable relative to said frame for carrying a series of tobacco leaves in a predetermined path through the machine, a needle lying lengthwise in the path of said tobacco leaves, said needle having a plurality of rack teeth extending lengthwise thereof, means carried by said movable member for holding said needle against lateral movement relative to said path, a rack fixed to said stationary frame, gear means carried by said movable member for connecting said last-named rack with the rack teeth on said needle whereby to hold said needle against lengthwise movement, and means for moving said movable member to successively impale tobacco leaves carried thereby upon said needle.

5. In a tobacco stringing machine, the combination of a stationary frame, a member movable relative to said frame and having a plurality of spaced arms, means for moving said movable member in a predetermined path in which said spaced arms are effective to advance through said machine a series of tobacco leaves in spaced relation established by the spacing of said arms, a needle positioned lengthwise in the path of said tobacco leaves, said needle having a plurality of rack teeth extending lengthwise thereof, a string attached to said needle, means carried by said movable member for holding said needle against lateral movement relative to said path, a rack fixed to said stationary frame, and gear means carried by said movable member for connecting said last named rack with the rack teeth upon said needle whereby to hold said needle against lengthwise movement when said means for moving said movable member is operated to impale tobacco leaves carried thereby upon said needle and to advance said leaves in spaced relation along said string.

6. In a tobacco stringing machine the combination of a stationary frame, an endless flexible conveyor mounted on said frame and having a plurality of spaced arms, means for driving said conveyor in a predetermined path in which said spaced arms are effective to advance through said machine a series of tobacco leaves in spaced relation established by the spacing of said arms, a needle positioned lengthwise in the path of said tobacco leaves, said needle having a series of rack teeth extending lengthwise thereof, means carried by said movable member for holding said needle against lateral movement relative to said path, a rack fixed to said stationary frame and having a series of teeth extending parallel with and laterally offset from the teeth upon said needle, and gear means carried by said conveyor and having teeth engageable simultaneously with the rack teeth upon said needle and the rack teeth upon said main frame whereby to hold said needle against lengthwise movement when said conveyor driving means is operated to impale tobacco leaves carried thereby upon said needle.

7. In a tobacco stringing machine the combination of a stationary frame, an endless flexible conveyor mounted on said frame and having a plurality of spaced arms, means for driving said conveyor in a predetermined path in which said spaced arms are effective to advance through said machine a series of tobacco leaves in spaced relation established by the spacing of said arms, a needle positioned lengthwise in the path of said tobacco leaves, said needle having a series of rack teeth extending lengthwise thereof, means carried by said movable member for holding said needle against lateral movement relative to said path, a rack fixed to said stationary frame and having a series of teeth extending parallel with and laterally offset from the teeth upon said needle, and a plurality of gear means carried in spaced relation along said conveyor, each of said gear means having teeth engageable simultaneously with the rack teeth upon said needle and the rack teeth upon said main frame when said gear means is in the portion of the path of said conveyor corresponding with the position of said needle, and the spacing of said gear means along said conveyor being such that at all times at least two of said gear means are in engagement with both of said series of rack teeth whereby to hold said needle against lengthwise movement when said conveyor driving means is operated to impale tobacco leaves carried thereby upon said needle.

8. A tobacco stringing machine as defined in claim 7 in which there is provided an extension rack having a few teeth forming a continuation of the teeth on the rack fixed to said main frame and having a single tooth spaced from the adjacent tooth by a distance slightly greater than the distance between the remaining teeth, and resilient means for mounting said extension rack upon said main frame for yielding movement generally radially of the teeth on the gear means carried by said conveyor, whereby as said gear means are brought successively toward the rack fixed to said main frame the teeth of said gear means will first engage the single tooth upon said extension rack and next engage the remaining teeth upon said extension rack and thereafter be brought into proper mesh with the teeth on said fixed rack.

MAURICE BOURQUIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 918,075 Muggli Apr. 13, 1909 945,717 Gullickson Jan. 4, 1910 1,071,654 Terry Aug. 26, 1913 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 733,106 France July 4, 1932 

